nlgn's review against another edition
2.0
Readable, and some interesting points, particularly with respect to the multitude of "small" ways that our experience of the world is diminished by automation. However, ignoring the massive advanced in safety that have come about as a result of automating eg planes, cars, etc, is a pretty massive lacunae.
in2reading's review against another edition
4.0
Thoughtful book that acknowledges the benefits of technology but is also a cautionary tale on the pitfalls of our increasing dependence on navigating our lives with screens. Backed up with plenty of scientific study but very readable.
leda's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Although repetitive at times, Carr makes some interest points about automation and how it affects us.
While machines like computers and smart phones make us more efficient and - hypothetically more productive, it comes with a cost. They diminish the extraordinary abilities that make us humans.
While machines like computers and smart phones make us more efficient and - hypothetically more productive, it comes with a cost. They diminish the extraordinary abilities that make us humans.
omad's review against another edition
5.0
A fascinating look at automation, from factories in the industrial age through to the moral conundrums of self driving cars and fully autonomous warfare.
Also includes interesting discussion on the economic impacts of robots and computer systems replacing factory and information workers, how it's next to impossible to build a 100% reliable automation system, and the dangers of hidden complexity and taking humans out of the loop in systems such as aeroplane autopilots.
Some of the most interesting topics for me were the discussions of 'flow' and fulfilment from doing work with a tangible connection to reality, and questioning how much we lose out if it's taken away.
Also includes interesting discussion on the economic impacts of robots and computer systems replacing factory and information workers, how it's next to impossible to build a 100% reliable automation system, and the dangers of hidden complexity and taking humans out of the loop in systems such as aeroplane autopilots.
Some of the most interesting topics for me were the discussions of 'flow' and fulfilment from doing work with a tangible connection to reality, and questioning how much we lose out if it's taken away.
eilyk97's review against another edition
2.0
the writing was fine, but his tone is condescending at times and he's very pick-and-choose with his arguments both against and in favor of technology. basically, i didn't like it.
epochellipse's review against another edition
3.0
Decent read.
My main takeaway is about automation's changes to the workforce. While it increases productivity, it concentrates the monetary benefits on that productivity to those who own the automation. Think loss of middle class factory jobs, while increase in jobs is primarily in the service sector. Or gig economy work such as driving Uber/Doordash, selling on Etsy, etc driving much more significant profits to the clearinghouse.
This dovetails well with the quote towards the end of the book: "It strains credulity to imagine today’s technology moguls, with their libertarian leanings and impatience with government, agreeing to the kind of vast wealth-redistribution scheme that would be necessary to fund the self-actualizing leisure-time pursuits of the jobless multitudes."
The notes on automation in Electronic Medical Records was also SUPER interesting, so definitely going to look into that more. Basically that automation can promise higher quality of care IF it's interoperable. But because it's not open source (because proprietary programs and forcing brand loyalty), it greatly increases spending, while not increasing quality of care. Not to mention that automation can disrupt workflows and alter processes in ways that have adverse effects for patient outcomes.
As a UX researcher, I was also interested that automation for software onboarding can decrease task time in the short term, but *increase* task time in the long term due to decreased learning. This has a lot of implications for onboarding processes based on expected frequency of use.
Main drawback: The author clearly lacks understanding on the cognitive and neural side of things. There are are a number of non-explanations (pretty much any time he mentions "neurons"), as well as points where he's straight-up wrong. Example: purporting that novices do not have mental models until they gain expertise, and that those mental models are explicitly "dedicated assemblies of neurons." Which means... absolutely nothing. Like even a novice has a mental model of the task they're trying to achieve, it changes as they gain experience or more information. It's a top level process, and referring to it as "assemblies of neurons" gives it the (wrong) impression of being inherently bottom up.
I also really think he should read up on some of the topics that he was trying to touch on, but was not getting there. Such as optimal arousal theory (really ties into aspects of flow) and heuristics (necessary for talking about novice vs expert task learning).
My main takeaway is about automation's changes to the workforce. While it increases productivity, it concentrates the monetary benefits on that productivity to those who own the automation. Think loss of middle class factory jobs, while increase in jobs is primarily in the service sector. Or gig economy work such as driving Uber/Doordash, selling on Etsy, etc driving much more significant profits to the clearinghouse.
This dovetails well with the quote towards the end of the book: "It strains credulity to imagine today’s technology moguls, with their libertarian leanings and impatience with government, agreeing to the kind of vast wealth-redistribution scheme that would be necessary to fund the self-actualizing leisure-time pursuits of the jobless multitudes."
The notes on automation in Electronic Medical Records was also SUPER interesting, so definitely going to look into that more. Basically that automation can promise higher quality of care IF it's interoperable. But because it's not open source (because proprietary programs and forcing brand loyalty), it greatly increases spending, while not increasing quality of care. Not to mention that automation can disrupt workflows and alter processes in ways that have adverse effects for patient outcomes.
As a UX researcher, I was also interested that automation for software onboarding can decrease task time in the short term, but *increase* task time in the long term due to decreased learning. This has a lot of implications for onboarding processes based on expected frequency of use.
Main drawback: The author clearly lacks understanding on the cognitive and neural side of things. There are are a number of non-explanations (pretty much any time he mentions "neurons"), as well as points where he's straight-up wrong. Example: purporting that novices do not have mental models until they gain expertise, and that those mental models are explicitly "dedicated assemblies of neurons." Which means... absolutely nothing. Like even a novice has a mental model of the task they're trying to achieve, it changes as they gain experience or more information. It's a top level process, and referring to it as "assemblies of neurons" gives it the (wrong) impression of being inherently bottom up.
I also really think he should read up on some of the topics that he was trying to touch on, but was not getting there. Such as optimal arousal theory (really ties into aspects of flow) and heuristics (necessary for talking about novice vs expert task learning).